Mold for shaping sheets of plastic material



July'14, 1942. c, v. SMITH HAL 2,289,5244

MOLD FOR SHAPING SHEETSVOF PLASTIC MATERI'AL rok/Veys 2,289,524 l/LASTIC MATERIAL 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ic. V. sMl-rH ErAL MOLD Ffm r51mm; SHEETS o V .Filed Feb. 24

EET-.3 f6

iff/f3 July 14, 1942.

FRANK R wIlL/AMS ou W A TToH/YEYS LE/VS /M'K TEM/DEM [URE TINE lvat'egnted Jill? 14 l, a

UNiTrED STATES Plizlelil'l "OFFICE ,"luonn lnon. smirmc snnsrs on rvrla's'nc cannes v.` smith ma mak nuwuum, ma.' Ohio, assignorl to .llhellnivil Lena Company..

Dayton, Ohio, a corporation or Ohio V e Applicant. February 24e, 1941, serum. 380,150 f Y. 130mm.. (ci. 11i- 11i This invention relates to apparatus for producing unbreakable ylenses rfrom synthetic materials.

When producing` lenses from synthetic materials,` by defcrming a blankof synthetic resin be- Utween forming dies, the usual practice heretofore hasbeen to lheat the blank of synthetic resin while within the forming press. This arrange- :ment entails a long cycle of operation of a press in which a lens is to be formedthe cycle of op'- eration including the entire period ofheating,

forming and subsequent cooling. Since the ysynthetic resins absorb heat yrelatively slow, 'the-- heating period of a blank of synthetic resin has.'

required relatively prolonged periods of time. The press during this time isretained from operation and the process is extremely uneconomical.

The usualprocedure heretofore followed in forminglenses from synthetic`materials has been to position the .forming dies securely within a press. The dieswere heated, byany suitable means..4 to 'thej temperature at which it was desired to work the blank of resinous material within the dies. Ablank of resinous material, of

suitable size` and'thickness, was positioned between the forming faces o f the forming dies.v

These faces were provided'with surfaces having an optical curvature of the desired shape which were arranged to cooperate to form the lens from A theblank of resinous material positioned there- `betweenwhen closing pressure was applied upon the dies. The forming pressure 'was retained upon the dies over a period oftime suiilcient .to alter the physical shape of the blank of resinous material until it conformed with the optical curvature ofthe dies. The dies were then cooled sufficiently to set the lens .blank tojaltered shape. This entire forming operation ha'sheretofore been-carried out upon a press whichresulted in ,relatively long periods of idle operation-of the pressvfor lens forming. purposes.

vide an apparatus'ior forming a blank of-resinous v material wherein the apparatusis preheated with a blank oi' resinous material positioned therein before placing the same in the forming press. j

.It is another object of the invention to place a pre-heated pair of f rmlng dies with a blanke: f resinous material -t erebetween'within an un- Another object of the invention is to pre-heat tween as a unit, elevatingtheir temperature to V a common level and subsequentlypressing the pre-'heated unit within a forming press.

Another object of the invention is to pre-heat a pair of forming dies with a resinous lensblank therebetween to a. uniform elevated temperature land to subsequently apply pressure upon the dies for forming the resinous blank into a shape conby deforming the blank vat a rate which .will not produce deleterious optical strain in the formed blank, A

' Another object vof the invention is to provide adevice for pre-heating a blank ofresinous material wherein the die surfaces are retained inA spaced relation with a resinous lensA blank there- 1 between during pre-heating.

A still further object of this invention is 'to` `provide a pair of dies having optically curved surfaces thereon, with means for positioning the die sur-faces in spacedrelation so'thata resinous 'blank of material can be inserted therein withupon the die elements and the lens blank canl be elevated in temperature as' a unit, and can be subsequently placed within a press for applying pressure 'upon the die for forming the resinous blank Iof material. Y j

Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of dies'havlng optical faces thereon with means for axially aligning the dies. Another object-of the invention is to provide -a pair of dies in winch a blank offresinous material can be pre-heated with means for axially aligning the same, and forpermitting angular displacement of the optical surfaces of the dies to permit the same to `assume proper relation with respect each other.

A m11 further object. ofthe invention is 'to piro--` o vide a' device adapted to receive a pair of form- .ing dies for altering the .configuration of a blank It is thus anobject of this invention to proof resinous material. which device is provided with means to permit the dies to alter the an-` gular position of their optical surfaces, whereby,

the opticalsurfaces will assume their proper rej',

lation with respect each other.-

'A stili further Jobject of the invention is to provide a device in wh'ich a blank of resinous mapair of diesretained in spaced relation by a band ,encirclingv the dies and being retained thereagainst-by 'frictional engagement.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a device-for-'pre-heating a. resinous blank of maj a pair offorxning dies with-a lens blank therebe- -terial which encloses the blank duringv the variforming with the optical curvature vof the-dies out' having the die faces engagethe same, where- .c

terial can be pre-heated, the device comprising av ous steps of pre-heating, forming and cooling to prevent dirt from entering between the die surface and the lens blank This application is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application for a Methodand ap- 4carrying out the method of this invention.

Figure 2 is a curve chart representing the various steps of the method and the temperatures and rates of formation encountered.

Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a press illustrating the formation of a lens within a press following the teachings of this invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

-Figure 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an oven suitable for pre-heating die units.

Figure 6 is a curve chart representing the varically controlled for maintaining the temperature` of the fluid therein relatively constant. The

heating source within the fluid tank I2, and the controls for the same. are wellknownin the art and further description thereof is not deemed necessary. A fluid pump I3 is connected to the fluid tank I2 and withdraws fluid. therefrom ous steps of a method for forming optical articles K wherein the forming press is not heated.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the press mechanismshowing a resilient bearing suppo for the press plunger.

This invention relates to an apparatus for forming blanks of synthetic resin into a configuration having optically curved surfaces or forA forming optical planos.

ln general. the apparatus consists of a pair of die members which have optically curved or plano surfaces thereon. These die members are retained in spaced relation during a pre-heating or temperature elevating period. A pair of die members with a resinous blank therebetween, comprises a unit which is positioned within an atmosphere maintained at an elevated temperature. The die elements4 and the resinous blank are elevated in temperature uniformly within the atmosphere, which atmosphere preferably brings the temperature of the resinous blank and dies to within a range of temperatures at which the lens blank can be altered in its physical shape.

Upon the dies and blank of resinous material reaching a determined temperature, or within a range of temperatures, 'the unit, consisting of the dies and blank, is removed from the high temperature atmosphere and positioned within a press. The press will apply pressure upon the dies to cause the same, to engage the blank of resinous material, whereupon the blank will assume the configuration of the optical surface of the die. `The press is provided with means for resiliently supporting the -platens which engage the die members to permit the platens to shift angularly when the cooperating optical surfaces of the dies are brought into engagement with'the resinous blank therebetween, whereby the optical surfaces will be aligned in their proper adjacent i or parallel relationship.

In this invention we provide an oven-or enclosure III which may be insulated for retaining heat Y therein. The enclosure I0 is provided with a plurality of heating coils I I through which a heating fluid may circulate. While we mention the heating fluid with regard means for heating the en` closure III, it is recognized that any means can be used Vfor heating the interior of the enclosure I0. The'heating' means should be under control of a suitable controlling device for `regulating the temperature ofthe' enclosure Il.

l is guided upon the rods 33.

,through the conduit I4 and discharges same through the conduit I5.Y

' The conduit I5 is connected to a conduit I9 which -communicates with a mold carrying member I'I of the press 20. The mold or die carrying member I1 forms the lower half of a cooperating mold and die combination. The upper mold or die carrying member I6 is connected to the other mold or die carrying member I1 by means of a fluid circulating conduitv I8. This conduit I8 permits the hot circulating fluid to be circulated through the die carrying members I6 and I1 in series and discharge from the upperdie carrying member I6 through the discharge conduit 22. The fluid from the pump discharge conduit i5 also circulates through the conduit I9 connected with the heating coils II positioned with the heating enclosure I0.y The fluid returns to the tank I2 from the heating conduits I I through the conduit 2i. While the heating circuits for the die carrying members I6 and I1 and the enclosure I0 have been described as being in parallel relation, it is also possible to arrange the circuit as a series circuit ii' desired. We have heretofore mentioned the fluid tank -I2l with regard a Aheating system, the heating fluid being circulated as heretofore described. It may also be considered that the tank I2 may contain apparatus for cooling a uid for circulating through the mold carrying members I6 and Il for cooling the same during certain cycles of operation in the formation of a lens from a blank of resinous material.' Under normal conditions, however, the die or mold carrying members I6 'and I'I will cool sufilciently rapid after the heating fluid has been stopped'in circulation therethrough to permit the' formed lens blank to be removed therefrom within a reasonable period the return conduit 2i from the heating coil II of the enclosure I0. The fluid circulating through either the mold carrying members I6 and Il or through :the heating coil II may thus be individually controlled to control the quantity of fluid flowing therethrough and thus the temperature thereof. This manner of temperature control of the die carrying members I6 and I1 and heating coil II is in addition to an automatic control of the temperature of the fluid within the tank I2.

The press 20, for' forming lthe pressing or forming operation, isof conventional construction and is diagrammatically represented. The press generally consists of a fluid actuating cylinder 33 having a lplunger 3l extending therefrom. The plunger 3i carries a platen 32 which The platen 32 carries the upper die or mold carrying member I6. The lower die or mold carrying member I1 is suitably positioned and carried upon the bed 34 ofthe press. The press controls and actuating elements are well known in the art andfurther description'of the same is not believed'necessary.

aseasac room temperature, bymeans of the heating coil- I I. A plurality ofy pairs of dies Il. and a plurality siderable operating time.' 'I'he lens blanks can cooling of. the die and blank of resinous mate-v rial causes the lens blank'to set in its altered shape, and may thereafter be removed from the dies upon release o'fpressure by the press 20.

of blanks lt of resinousmaterial are adapted to s As heretofore described, the die elements and be` placed within the enclosure il for elevating the blanks of resinous material were pre-heated the temperaturethereof. Whenmolding alarge within an atmosphere 'at elevated temperature. j number oflenses upon a press. it is of particular as individual units, and were subsequently placed advantage to have the" die members and the in their proper relation prior to theinsertion of lens blank heatedt'o within the range of moldvl0 the thus assembledunit into the press. To ining temperatures jat which the lens blanks are sure airabsolute and uniform heating oi' the die to be worked. The pre-heating of the dies and elements andthe blank of resinous material, we\ the blanks of resinousv material eliminates the prefery to assemblethe 'die elements and a blank necessity of heating the blanks yof `resinouii may -of resinous material as units prior .to preheating,

- terial after being positioned between the `dies isi and pre-heat such assembled elements as a unit'.

' and within the press. The lens blanks-M and Further, we prefer to provide an arrangementl the dies are completely surrounded by the whereinablank of 'resino'us materialis positioned high elllllieliillle4 'Emlhere Within the H1610- 4 betweenjthe optical surfaces of a pair of die ele- Sure Il. the Dre-,heutinl' `0f the dies 35 'h'd the ments, and toposition the die elements in spaced blanks of resinous material 3 6 will --save congo relationship, the surfaces ofv the blank being under `no pressure during the pre-heating therebe' pre-heated either within the dieser be heated of. We prefer to arrange the die elements inn separately therefrom. spaced'relationship to prevent local overheating The heating of the die carrying ,membe I8 and Il, bythe fluid circuit heretofore described, retains' the dies Il at molding temperature throughout the molding operation, hence, the

g5 ofptime than other portions ofthe blank of resinlons material positioned therebetween. If a blank i of resinous material is positioned' betweenv dies or the heating of local spots fora longer period respectively, see Figure 2.- It may thus be seen, by referring to the chart of Figure 2, that the i, the press 2li and retained at moldingtemperat'ure by the'fiuid circulating throughv the die car.

temperature of the blank of resinous material is maintinedsubstantiauy constant.

'I'he deformation rate of a blank of resinous material is predetermined according to the temperature at whlch the blanks are to be worked. This deformation rate is of a determined order and cannot be greater than a rate which hasheated, the maximum temperature of the same can be controlled. The die members 35 and the blank IB can be removed from the interior of Vthe enclosure Il and the blank 38 be positioned within the' mold- 35 if theblank has not been pre-heated while between the die members. This unit, comprising the die elements 35 -and the blank 3l, is then positioned within the press 20.

The temperature of the blank vund die elements 38 is indicated by the lines 4I and 4I first step of pre-heating brings the die elemeits and blankup to molding temperature.. The preheated unitmay then have pressure applied upon the dieelements by thepress 20. The rate of in- .icreasing pressure application by the press 20 upon" the Jdie elements 3lv has been predetermined to be the proper rate for forming the preheated lens blank at thevtemperature at which it is 'to be worked. This increasingl Arate of pressure application` can be controlled .eithrll manually or automatically, however, the rate never exceeds the predetermined rate. During` the forming operation, the pressure` is gradually increased upon the die elements as indicate by the line I2 of the chart of`Fi8u1e 2. t

Upon completion of the forming operation,v the die elements 3l. which have been positioned in rying elements ilv and Il, may be cooled eitherbythe circulation of nuid through/the mold car-7 rying members Il or i1, or by closing-the valve having curved surfaces andthe assembly is lprepoints of direct contact between the blank and i the dies are brought up to temperature relative ly soon. 'I'hese spots are retained at' the elebeen predetermined t0 be the maximum 1151142` at 35 vated temperature-over. a longer period of time which a blanko! resinous material can be der than are those areas 4which are not contacted formed at the particular temperature at which it direotiy. We have found that these iooai not iS t0 be Worked. Since thQ die elementsl and spotg have resulted in changes 01 the optical the blanks 0f resingus Vmaterial are Dre-heated properties of uthe material, particularly in. a to the same temperature. and `are UnifOrmly 40 change inthe index ofrefraction of the material in the area ofthe hot/spot, This condition of local hot spots. is particularly acute when the blank of-resin'ous material is placed between optical surfaces which are curved. Whenl pro-- contact between the plano surface and the die4 l o permits the blank to heat up evenly.

To provide an assembly which canl be prehea'ted 'as a unit. we provldefa pair of wdie ele f ments 45 and 46. These die elements 45 and 46 may have formed therein'optial surfaces which l u are either plano or'curved surfaces, which sur- .faces may-be formed withinI the facefof the dies, or may be provided in thel nature of inserts 41 and 4l 'placed 'in the dies 45 and respectively.

Theseinserts are preferably of glass, which pro- .duces the exacting surface required 'for' optical surfaces;

The die elements 4l and i are adapted to be f retained in spaced vertical ^relation by means of a sleeve Il positioned therearound. This sleeve u is provided with lover-1aiuiiinis ends asimucated at Il, to permita certain degree of-.exf pansion thereof.A The` dies Iig-,and 46 are pro vided with relatively'accurate circumferences vso that the sleeve will xiallyialignthe centers die elements I! and 4l, and thus will align theinsertsI I1 iind ll in'an axial manner.

A tightening-tana si is positioned 'around' the sleeve .substantially midway between the ends '.thereof, which locates the-band il at substantial-- 2. wmehtonwmnon 9g heating huid. The n 1y the horisontal'middle'oi' the die members I6 and 4s.' 'rms band 5| may be tightened by me screw 52 to retain the sleeve 49 in frictional engagement with the die elements 45 and 46.

.The die elements 45 and 46 may thus be assembled with ay blank of resinous material 52 the platen 64.

positioned therebetween. The assembly of thc the area from which the lens or plano .will be produced. While the surface of the plano will be more closely associated with the die surface upon which it is positioned, yet the fact that there is no pressure applied thereon will reduce the efl fectiveness of thermal contact therewith and thus prevent any local overheating. If desired, srgall projections can be provided to raise the plano surface slightly from the surface of the die. The sleeve 49 is tightened upon the die elements 45 and 46 by means of the band 5I whereby the assembly may be positioned within an oven or heating enclosure Illa for pre-heating.

, 'Ihe sleeve 49 encircles and encloses the annular space between the die elements 45 and 46 after once assembled. Since the sleeve 49 remains upon the dieeiements 45 and 46 during the preheating and the subsequent pressing or forming operation, foreign matter will be excluded from Iwithin theA annular space between the die gelements, which matter would tend to injure the surface of the blank upon formation thereof, and the die surfaces are retained out of good thermal contact with the resinous blank during the entire pre-heating operation..` v

The `units comprising lthe dies 45, 46 and the blank ofresinous material 52 are elevated to a determined temperature within the enclosure Illa. Since the enclosure lila is retained at substantially a constant temperature in a manner similar to the enclosure Ill. the units may be 'retained Within the enclosure for any period of time to insure a uniform heating ofthe dies and blank of resinous material.

The pre-heated unit upon reaching its ultimate temperature can be removed from the pre-heating enclosure Illa and be positioned between the pressing platens of a press.

The pressing platens 53 and 54 can be heated by any suitable means, such as the fluid circulating passages 55 (see Figure 3). The pressing platen 54 is preferably positioned upon a resilient support member 56 which in turn is supported by the press base 51. The resilient support mem-i ber 56 may take the form of a block of soft rubber or a plurality ofsprings may be positioned .between the pressing platen 54 and the base 51 to resiliently support the platen 54. We do not wish to limit ourselves to the use of any specific resilient supporting means, but rather the resilient support 56 may take any form which will permit the pressingplaten 54 to displace itself angulariy with'respect the base 51. The upper pressing platen 53 is secured to the plunger 59 which extends from the power source for the press. and provides the means for applying pressure upon the pre-heated unit positioned between plunger.

The vertical axis of the resilient support 59 is f arranged in alignment with the verticalvaxisof While this is not essential since the platen is entirely resiliently supported, yet it is convenient from a constructlonal standpoint. The preheated die unit. containing a blank of resinous material, is positioned between the platens 53 and 54 so that the central axes of the die members and 46 are in substantial alignment with the vertical axis of the plunger 59.

When molding an article which has opposite surfaces which are equidistantly spaced between a pair of die surfaces the resilient mounting of the die surfaces will result in the surfaces aligning themselves equidistantly when pressure is applied thereto. This is a normal result obtained by pressing a mass of material between two equidistantly spaced surfaces if the pressure is applied to the die surfaces at the central point thereof. It the center of the mass of material to be formed is arranged substantially'in coaxial alignment with the axis of the die surfaces the pressure applied-by the die surfaces to the mass will vtend to evenly distribute over the entire surface area of the mass.

metrical or asymmetrical. l'lhat is, these surfaces must be surfaces of a sphere in order tol produce this result. 'I'he resilient mounting of the platens 53 and 54 permit these platens to assume any angle required in order to permit the surfaces of the die to 'assume a relation wherein the pressure applied to 'the mass between the dies is evenly distributed over the entire surface area. 'i

As heretofore described, the die members 45 and 46are held in spaced relation by means of the friction engaging sleeve 49. However, when the plunger 59 moves the platen 53, the die memf" ber 45 will be moved within the sleeve 49 to approach the die member 46, whereby the blank of resinous material 52 will be caused to assume the optical curvature placed on the faces of the die inserts 41 and 49. i

The sleeve 49 retains the dies 45 and 46 in substantial axial alignment. However, for various reasons there may be slight mis-alignment of the surfaces of optical curvature of the die inserts 41 and 48. That is, when producing an article for optical work which has parallel-and equidistantly spaced optical surfaces, the curvature or plano surface of the die insert 41 may not match or be equidistantly spaced from the curved or plano surface of the die insert 49 when the same are assembled within the sleeve 49. Such a condition would result in slight angular mis-alignment of' the axes of the die inserts 41 and 48. Any slight angular axial mis-alignment of the optical plano or curved surfaces of the die inserts will be corrected by the resiliently mounted press platens 53 and 54 of the'mechaf nism heretofore described since the die 45 and the die 46 are pressed together by means of the resiliently mounted pressing platens 53 and 54.

Since. the opposing optical surfaces of thedie inserts 41 and 49 are moved toward each other by means which are resiliently mounted, the two surfaces will approach one another in a manner such that the force compressing the material therebetween will tend to evenly distribute over the entire area of the compression surfaces to position the surfaces equidistantly and establish the surfaces in coaxial alignment. -This condi- IZi'his condition will be true when the article to be produced is an article .i having equidistantly spaced surfaces, or as long as the surfaces have curvatures which arev sym-.

' Y Thearrangement non nous true for au optical .runes which have symmetrical surfaces or surfaceslwhlch are sur- Vfaces of asymmetrical spheres. The sleeve 4l, not'being a solidcylinder, .will permit the die 45 to align itself with the die '45 since the ends of the sleeve 49, as represented at 5l, may slide,A

with respect each other to permit slight angular displacement of the dies. ,i

The construction of the press -iust previous] described will labsorb all slight angular misplacement between the platens 53 and 54. However, there are times when the angular misplacement between the platens may be greater han what is usually considered a normal angle o misplacement.- Under these conditions the platen 58 may A need to move laterally as well as angularly to p'er`- mit the proper parallel relation to be assumed by the faces of the dies 4l and 45. It is thereforeadvisable to mountthe plunger 55' within alresilient or oating bearing which will permit the plunger to move transversely about a pivot point.

`As disclosed in Figure "I, the plunger 55is connected to a pressure motor 55, such as a diaparallel and equidistantly spaced suriaceswhicliA are either 'plano surfacesl or are surfaces of opfuseful when producing an optical article having tical curvature; or can bek used whenproducin'g lenses to'preventthe production of prisms in the y `iinished product ofthe die laces.' f After the unit, consisting of the dies 45 and 46 with a lens blank 52 therebetween, has been predue toQ slight mis-alignment heated within the enclosure Illa to a determined molding temperature, the lpre-heated unit may be worked in slightly different manners within toproduce optical strain within the ilnished lens; In any event, the .molding temperature of the phragm bellows, for vreciprocating the plunger 55 and the platen 55`ior forming the mass of material placed within the die elements 45 and 45.

l.'.l'he plunger 55 may be plvotally ysecured to the diaphragm motor ,55,` or if the diaphragm of the motor 55 is flexible the plunger can be secured directly thereto. c

A -oating bearing support 55. is provided'v around the plunger 55 inv order to resiliently j* guide the same in'a vertical direction and yet ,is suiilciently resilientto permitl the plunger 58 to move transversely of its axis. The floating bearing consists Aof acollar 61 which surrounds the plunger 55 and in which the same can slide.

The collar'l is secured within a resilient dlaphragm` 55 which may be constructed of rubber or some other material which has considerable elasticity. The diaphragm 58 is suitably mounted the press iorg forming the blank 52 to the contour of the optical surfaces ofthe dies If the press 'platens 53 and 54 are heated,- the molding or forming temperatureof the blank 52 and the dies and 40 can be'retained for an indefinite period of time, and whereby the rateI of formation of the press of resinous material 52 can be exceedingly slow, if desired, or preferably'i's at the rate determined to be the proper ratenot blank 52-is retained throughout .the complete formation period thereof.I iiowever,` there are certain types of lenses `which do not requre that lthe molding temperature be retained for so long a period,-particu larly those lenses which require'very slight formation. necessary to' heat the platens 5l and 54, since the residual heat ofthe pre-heated dies 45'and 45 is sumcient to maintain. the blank 52 ,within the molding temperature ,range for the period of time required i'or forming. 'Ihe determiningjfactor as to the length-.of time the blank 52 will be retained within its molding temperature range is thc mass of the dies-45 and 45. It may readily be seen that the 'larger the mass of material to Ia rigid support B9 for positioning the same 'I yand the-collar 51 with respect vthe plunger 58.

' While the resilient support has'b'een mentioned as a rubber diaphragm 88, yet-this support need not be a solid diaphragm element but canbe a web structure or can be a plurality'of individual flexible webs interposedbetween the collar 51 or the stationary mount 69.

The flexible bearing support for the platen 53 permits initial engagement. of the die element 45 from -which the dies 45 and are made, the greater the amount of residual heat which will lbe retained from the pre-heating step. It is quite possible that if the mass of the dies 45 and '46 is sui'iiciently large, the heating of the platens 53 and 54 may be entirely dispensed with when forming any optical article.-

ata considerable angle and yet willpermit sufli cient lateral movement of the plunger 58 that the platenv 53 will parallel itself with respect the platen 54 and the die elements 45 and 4 5. Under the condition wherein the platen'53 engages the die .element 45 at a considerable angle and iniftially engages the die element at a point indicated A, it canreadily be seen that vertical movement of the plunger 55 represented by the'arrow B'will be accompanied with an arcuate movement as indicated by the arrow C, the movementbeing about the pivot point A" whereby the platen 53 will of necessity movelaterally as indicated by the arrow D in order to parallel itself with the platen 54 and with the-top surface oi' the die ele- "ment 45. By the structure hereindisclosed',l it

can thus be seen that if the resilient mounting member 59 is insumcient to absorb' fan of the angular misplacement of the platen 53 withrespect the die element 45, that the floating bearingsupport will absorb'any additional angular misplacement which cannot be absorbed by ,the rubber mounting 59. l y. l V

just described is particularly Lenses of slight correction or optical planos Y are specific examples Aof optical articles which can be formed without the necessity of heating the pressing platens 5l and 54. When forming .these optical articles, the movement of the mass o! the blank of resinous `material is very slight and hence the time required for molding is considerably shorter than for lenses of relatively high correction. When forming optical articles of these' types by pre-heatingthe blank of resinous material and the forming dies as a unit,'it has been lfound that the residual heat is sumc'ient to permit the complete formationof the article. Thus, under these `cases the pressing platens 53 and 54 need not be lheated and vmay actually be cooled., Q l

While the form and embodiment disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form, yet it may readily be understood that we do not wish to limit our invention to the specific forms de# scribed but that the invention may be practiced by the use o'f any number of mechanical arrangements of apparatus, all of which come within the purview of vthis invention.

, I-laving-thus-y fully\described our invention, v

what we claim asnew and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

LA device for pre-heating a blankof resin- 4 o us materialcompising, a pair of die' elements,

InQl these instances'it would notI be said elements being arranged for the positioning of a blank of resinous material therebetween, at

`leastone of said elements having an optically curved face, an elasticband encircling and frictionally engaging. said die elements for position-l ing said elements in spaced axially aligned relation during preheating, said band permitting an-l gular realignmentof. the optically curved faces upon forming pressure being applied to said dies.

2. A forming apparatus for' axially aligning opposed diesurfaces whichconsists of a pair of die elements having opposed fo 4 g surfaces, means encircling said die elements for frictionally holding the same in adjacent relation and adjacent die 'surfaces to coaxigdly align when pressure is applied thereto@ 3^. A forming g apparatus for .axially aligning opposed die surfaces which consists 'of a pair of die elements having opposed symmetrical form-l ing surfaces, means encircling said die elements v for frictionally holding the same in adjacent relation and in substantial coaxial alignment, resiliently mounted angularly displaceable means for supporting said die assembly, and a second resiliently mounted anguiariy displaceable means a for applying pressure uponsaid die assembly, the

resiliency of said last'two mentioned means permitting angular displacement thereof with respect the means carrying the same to equidis` tantly space adjacent symmetrical die surfacesv and coaxially align thesame when pressure is applied thereto.

4. A device for preheating a blankof'resinous material comprising, 'a -pair of die elements, said `elements being arranged for the positioning of a. blank of resinous vmaterial therebetween, at least one of said elements having an optically curved face, and means encircling and frictionally engaging said die elements for retaining said elements in spaced relation until pressure is applied thereto.

5. An apparatus for forming av mass of resinous material comprising a pair of die elements, means encircling and frictionally engaging said die elements for retaining said die elements in substantial axial alignment andl in spaced relationship before pressure is applied thereto, means for moving one of said die elements with respect to the other and for applying pressure upon said said supporting means, means for moving one of said die elements with respect to the other and for applying pressure upon said die elements to `press the same upon a mass of resinous material therebetween, and means constructed and arranged for resiliently supporting said pressure applying means to provide the same with freedom of lateral and angular movement with respect to said die elements upon contacting the movable die element and during movement thereof with respect to the other die element to prevent disturbance to the axial alignment faces, said forming die being thereldv carried between floating press members to produce even distribution of pressure upon the mass of resinous material between the die surfaces( whereby saidsurfaces align themselves to evenly distribute the plastic material therebetween.

8. A device forforming a mass ofresinous material comprising, a floating die supporting plate,

' a platen, means floating said platen upon the end of an actuating plunger, a. motor for actuating said plunger, means connecting said plunger wherebyr the die is compressed between floating die elements to press the same uponV a mass of resinous material therebetween, and means constructed andarranged for resilientlysupporting said pressure applying means to provide the same with freedom of lateral and anglar movevment with respectto said die elements upon contacting the movable die element and during movement thereof with respect to-the other die element to prevent disturbanceto the axial alignment thereof;

of said plunger about a single center anguiarly members which align'themselves with respect to the die surfaces in lengagement therewith.

9. A device for forming a mass orresinous ma- -terial comprising means supporting a die supporting plate to permit freedom of angular movement thereof, a platen. anactuating plunger, a motor for actuating said plunger, means supporting said platen on said plunger to permit freedom of angular movement thereof with respect to said plunger, and means supporting said plungen said motor having means for supporting said plunger topermit'freedom of movement with respect to the axis of said plunger. and

, resiliently mounted means for centering said les 6. An apparatus for forming amass of resinplunger with respect to the axis of actuation thereof..

11. A device for forming a mass of resinous material comprising means fioatingly supporting to said plate.

. A y J "2,289,524 "tl-ie axis of actuation thereol',sai d plunger centering means permittingA angular movement ot said plunger' with respect to the ax'is thereof upon transverse movement oi said platen with respect 12. .A deviceN for material comprising means lioatlngly supporting a 'die supporting plate, a platen, an actuating plunger, a motor for actuating said. plunger. means floatingly supporting' said platen on said plunger, a forming die disposed between saidv plate and said platen, said motor supporting said plunger and having means to permit said plunger to swing from a xed center, and resiliently mounted means for centering said plunger with `forming a mass ofresinous` i3'. A device for forming a mass c: resinous material comprising, a resiliently mounted angu- `larly displaceable die supporting plate, a platen; an actuating plunger, vmeans supporting said' .platen from the end of said actuating plunger topermit :angular displacement oi said platen with respect to' saidplunger, said plunger being anguisriy aispiaceabic with respect tc the normal axis thereof. and amotor connected to said plunger y.

for actuating the same', a forming die curved forming surfaces disposed. betw ving said plate and platen adapted to receive a mass of resinous material between the dlesurfaces. saidforminz die being thereby carried between floating press members to produce even distribution respect to the axis of actuation thereof, said platen supportingmeans permitting angular' movement of said platen `with respect to the axis movement ot said pissen with. ,met to the ncp mal axis of actuation o! said phmgen v .u u

of said .plunger upon contacting said die while said plunger centering means permits transverse of pressure uponthe mass o! resinous material between. the die surfaces whereby said surfaces coaxially align themselves to evenly distribute the Y* plastic-,material therebetween.

CHARLES v. SMITH. v j FRANK P. wwwa.. 

